The Black Siren

It Will Cost More To Play in the US

According to the Resident Advisor, The US has raised the price of the visa application for performing artists visiting the country.

“The rate hike for the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, which is required for all artists, musicians and others—including DJs—traveling to the US for work, will come into effect on December 23rd, jumping from $325 per person to $460. As Pitchfork reports, that’s a 42% increase.

The decision has already drawn ire from groups like the Canadian Federation Of Musicians, who called it an “unacceptable financial burden.” Speaking to RA over the phone, Ryan Smith from Liaison Artists—which counts The Black Madonna, Tale Of Us and Daniel Avery among its roster—echoed the criticism. ‘The process is already extremely expensive and time consuming in relation to other countries,’ he said, adding that “hopefully the service will get better if there is an increase’.”

In a report from the New York Times, it states “…according to Homeland Security Department records, requests for the standard foreign performer’s visa declined by almost 25 percent between 2006 and 2010, the most recent fiscal year for which statistics are available [at the time of this publishing]. During the same period the number of these visa petitions rejected, though small in absolute numbers, rose by more than two-thirds.”

If you’re an artist outside of the United States and looking to cross the pond to our stages, contact Play America : For questions about or assistance in obtaining P-1B visas, contact Marc C. Gessford at Play America at marc@playamericavisas.com or 916-350-1919.